Trap-nest.



Wm BSOJML Patented Film) 22, I900.

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TRAP NEST.

(A'pplicatio'n filed 'se rh 16, 1899.)

(H0 Modem.

Users irir/rrns FRANK ORYILIE /VELLCOME, OF YARMOUJII, MAINE.

TRAP

-NEST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,101, dated May 22, 1900. Application filed September 16, 1899. Serial No. 730,759. (150 model.)

ing qualities of given hens and the number and. character of the eggs laid by them may be unerr'ngly ascertained.

The object of my invention is the prod uction of an easily-constructed, cheap, and reliable trap-nest in the employment of which it is impossible for confusion, either as to hens or as to the eggs, to arise, and which, moreover, it is further impossible for more than one hen to occupy at the same time.

To the foregoing ends my invention consists of the devices set forth in this specification and a typical embodiment of which illustrated in the accon'lpanying drawings, the particular subject-matter which I claim as novel being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure I is a front View in perspective of a trap-nest embodying myimprovemcnts, with the trap-plate and trigger indicated in dotted lines in the positions which they occupy when the nest is set ready for the entrance of the hen. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the rear of the said casing, showing the application of a door. Figs. 3 and 4 are side elevational details, respectively, of the trap-plate and of its trigger. Fig.5 is a view of the front of the casing, supposed removed. Figs. 6, 7, S, and 9 are front elevational views of the trap-plate and trigger in successive positions n hich said devices assume in the operation hereinafter described, the front of the casing and the outline of the hen-opening in it and also The edge line of the right-hand side edge of the casing, which is designated 1, being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the cover removed and with the trap-plate and trigger indicated in dotted Rises in the positions which. they respectively occupy when the hen has entered the casing and is locked within it.

} Similar letters of reference indicate come i spending part-sin all of the figures. I In the drawings, B is a box or casing for containing the nest Within which the hen is to lay. This box may be of any preferred form, dimensions, and material, but is conveniently made of wood and of an approximate height of eighteen (18) inches, breadth twelve (12) inches, and depth ten (10) inches, which dimensions may of course be varied. vr'ithin this casing or box, which has a top, but, preferably, no bottom, the nest material 's so placed as to occupy its lower portion and to rest either upon the easings bottom when used or upon the shelf, platform, floor, or other base upon. which the device deposited. I prefer to provide the casing either at the top or back with a lid or cover Cor a doerD, as respectively shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 10.

F is the front of the box or casing, provided conveniently about midway of the height and preferably at one side with a hen-opening 0, Fig. 5, through which the hen may enter the box. It being a desideratum in devices of this character that while it should be easy for a hen to enter them it should be impossible for her to escape after once being Within them or f0 another hen to follow her into them, so the two hens should occupy the same nest at the same time, I have provided in connection with the hen-opening 0 an attachment which I tern. the trap-plate A. This trap-plate, a preferred form of which is rep resented in the drawings and shown detached in Fig. 3, is in the natur of a depending pivoted laterally oscillatory or swinging gravitative device which operates in the plane of the heino ening O and serves t almost. out not completely occlude said opening in the front of the casing and which embodies a preferably-curved lateral recess (t in one of its sides, a t gger-lifting arm or extension a", and a trigger notch (t for engagement with the trigge hereinafter referred to. The trappiatc is suspended within the casing against the inner lface of that front which embodies the hen-opening O by a pivot-pin c, which projects from said inner face of said front and passes through Lll aperture (4* in the upper portion of the plate. The plate depending from the pivot-pin .iormali'y own pics by virtue of the form of its lower or oecluding portion proper (designated a a position indicated in Figs. 1 and 6, in which, as will be apparent, the curved recess a in its side formsrelatively to the side of the casing and in registry'with the hen-opening O a vertical opening of Substantially such size as will permit of a hens introducing her head and neck within'the casing. When this has taken place, the plate, as will be easily understood, will afiord no real resistance to the further admission of the hens body, but will swing about its pivot to one side, to the left in the drawings, and into the position represented in Figs. 7 and 8 again, in which the hen-opening in the case which is large enough to admit a hen will be exposed for the entrance of the hen, and will then swing or gravitate back into its first or normal position. (Indicated in Figs. 9 and 10.).

To cotiperate with the trap-plate and in order after the entrance of the hen to automatically lock the plate in its normal posi-.

tion, as in Figs. 9 and 10, and occlude the hen-opening O, I provide a pawl or trigger P, Fig. 4, which is pivoted by a trigger-pin p, projecting from the inside face of the front of the casing and passing through an aperture 17 in the head of the trigger and which is adapted to normally occupy the position represented in Figs. 1 and (Sand rest idly against the trigger armor extension a of the trap-plate, but which 'in the lifting of the plate and after its escape from contact with said arm-will gravitate to the right against that edge of the pla e which faces it', as shown in Fig. 7, and which in the return or descent of the plate after its lifting by the entrance of the hen will drop from the position represented in Figs. 7 and 8 into the horizontal position represented in Figs. 9 and 10, and

in said position will engage with the trigger-.

notch a of the plate, and thereby lock the plate in the position shown in said. figures and prevent the escape of the hen, which after laying is to be removed, preferably through the covereprovided top or door-provided back of the case.

a is a cutaway portion of the edge of the trap-plate between its trigger-arm ('t' and its notch a which permits of the dropping action of the trigger into the notch, and S is a step-to insure the dropping of the trigger.

In the setting ofthis trapncstnvh ich is manually performed, the trigger is simply elevated and permitted to rest against the trigger-arm a of the depending trap-plate, as indieated 'in Figs. 1 and 6. Its further movewent in the operation or the trap-plate and until its drop to effect its action of looking the plate is automatic; but its releasing and resetting must be done by hand and after the eluding recess-embodying portion extending approximately at right angles downward and away from the upper portion.

The form of plate represented bears a pre determined dimensional relation to the easing-front to which it is applied and to the hen-opening therein, and the curved recess of the platc,which constitutes the opening for the entrance of the hens head and neck, occupies a position out-he opposite edge from that occupied by the trigger and notch adapted to register with the hen-opening and preferably about midway between the lower or bottom portion and the upper or aperture-provided portion of said plate. The curved form of this hen-head recess a I regard as preferable. The trap plate is also preferably made of wood of suitable thickness to unfailingly operate with the trigger, which may be made of a breadthin-excess of that of the plate; but other materials than wood may of course be employed for both the trap-plate and the trigger and, if desired, for the casing itself.

Having now described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In combination with the casing of a trapnest which embodies a hen-opening, a swinging trap-plate having a lateral recess and adapted to expose or close said hen-opening, and a trigger adapted to. automatically lock said plate in its closed position, substantially as and for the purpose specified.-

'2. In a trap-nest, in combination with a casing having a hen openiug in one of its sides,

a depending trap-plate formed with a lateral recess adapted to register with the hen-opening and embodying a trigger-arm and notch, and a trigger to lock said plate in its position of aforesaid registry with the hen-opening, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two suln scribing witnesses.

FRANK ORVILLE \vldllilil i fiilil l.

\V i tuosses FRANK \V. lilftKMAN. EDGAR F. CASSWYELL.

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